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Sicily—-Taormina May 3, 2023
As French author Guy de Maupassant wrote of his stay in 1883, "Were a man to pass a single day in Sicily and ask, What must one see?' I would answer him without hesitation, Taormina."
Taormina, an ancient city that rises almost perpendicularly from the sea. It's a beautiful setting with an alluring medieval character, as tourists discover while navigating its narrow, cobbled streets.
Sidenote: this is the town made even more famous in season two of HBO’s the White Lotus.
I saw many ceramic, Testa Di Moro. (Moor’s head) vases with busts of Arab persons heads, featured in White
Lotus.
We were fortunate the sunny weather defied the forecast for rain.
Sicily Overview
Did you know that Sicily is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.
Over the millennia, Sicily's strategic position in the middle of the Mediterranean has lured culture after culture to its shores, resulting in one of Europe's richest and most remarkable histories. Disputed for centuries by a steady parade of ancient peoples including the Greeks, Carthaginians and Romans, the island saw subsequent rule by invading forces of Byzantines, Saracens, Normans, Germans, Angevins, Spanish and others before finally claiming its pivotal role within a unified Italy in the early 1860s.
Nonverbal communication
Why are they known for bold expressive communication style using gigantic hand gestures and facial expressions??
Because they frequently encountered speakers of foreign languages, they learned to use hands, body, faces, and movement to communicate.
That makes sense to me!!
Sicilian Way of Life
When asked to name their nationality, most locals will say 'Sicilian" rather than 'Ital-ian, reinforcing a generally held Italian belief that the Sicilian culture and character are markedlv different to those of the rest of the country. Though sharing many traits with fellow residents of the Mezzogiorno (the part of southern Italy comprising Sicily, Abru-zzo, Basilica, Campania, Calabria, Apulia, Molise and Sardinia), Sicilians have a dialect and civil society that are as distinctive as they are fascinating.
Italians are quarrelsome and fight over the slightest slight.
As our bus driver was winding around a curve on the mountainside, another bus driver approached from the opposite direction and there was a macho standoff.
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Sicilys north eastern coast offers something for everyone from archaeological sites to bustling city’s outdoor adventures gorgeous peaches an island excursions.
The last time I was here, I took a tour from Catania called “the godfather tour” where we visited parts of Catania, Taormina, hillside villages, several filming locations from 'The Godfather' and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Isola Bella.
Timeless city of Taormina tour description:
Delight in the medieval character of Taormina while strolling its atmospheric streets and admiring landmarks such the Greek theater from the 2nd century.
Messina
After departing from the pier, you will have a short panoramic tour of Messina, pausing for photos of the glorious Cathedral of Messina, which dates to the 12th century.
Underrated Messina sits on a curved har-bour at the northernmost point of Sicily's Ionian Coast, a few kilometres from the Italian mainland. A major transport hub for centuries, it remains an important gateway to and from the island.
While a devastating earthquake in 1908, razed many of Messina's historic monu-ments, it allowed the city to re-emerge with a distinctly belle époque air. Wide boulevards and lower-rise, turn-of-the-century buildings exude a sense of space and calm missing from other major Sicilian cities.
And though the city's cultural cachet doesn't quite match that of its more coveted rivals, it does claim one of Sicily's finest cathedrals and an outstanding regional museum, not to mention swordfish and granita celebrated by connoisseurs across the island.
Taormina
Continuing along the coast to the south, you will approach Taormina, an ancient city that rises almost perpendicularly from the sea. It's a beautiful setting with an alluring medieval character, as you will discover while navigating its narrow, cobbled streets.
Among the highlights are the Arabian-influenced Palazzo Corvaja and the ruins of a 2nd-century Greek theater. It sits on a seaside hilltop with a view of Mount Etna that is so inspiring that it can detract from the entertainers that still perform there in the summer. After visiting, you will enjoy free time to wander about the areas that interest you the most.
You might take in the views from the fragrant public garden or shop along boutique-lined Corso Umberto. The most popular merchandise includes designer fashions, jewelry and colorful ceramic pine cones, a Sicilian symbol of hospitality.
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Taormino has some of the most exquisitely beautiful storefronts I’ve ever seen. I felt as though I was walking through a museum of shop windows. By the way I’ve traveled all over the world I don’t recall ever taking photos store fronts, even in places such as Manhattan and Paris.
Only 3000 people live in Taormina year round. The rest are only there during tourist season.
Here are reviews of Taormina:
Spectacularly perched on the side of a mountain, Taormina is one of Sicily's most popular summer destinations, a chic resort town popular with holidaying high-rollers and those wanting a taste of Sicilian dolce vita.
Although unashamedly touristy and ex-pensive, the town merits a couple of days for its stunning ancient theatre, people-watching and breathtaking vistas.
Founded in the 4th century BCE, Taormina enjoyed great prosperity under the Greek ruler Gelon II and later under the Romans, but fell into quiet obscurity after being conquered by the Normans in 1087. Its reincarnation as a tourist destination dates tc the 18th century, when northern Europeans discovered it on the Grand Tour. Among its fans was DH Lawrence, who lived here between 1920 and 1923.
Taormina gets extremely busy in July and August and virtually shuts down between November and Easter. Ideally, head up in April, May, September or October.
Taormina
One of Sicily's top destinations, Taormina is a picturesque town perched on the dramatic outcrop of Monte Tauro with some of the most beautiful sea views in all of Sicily. Founded by the Greeks in the fourth century BC, who gave it its famous Greek theater, it was taken over by the Romans in the third century AD, who quickly saw its potential as an elite retreat.
Like much of Sicily, Taormina was conquered by the Byzantines, Arabs, and eventually the Spanish, all of whom left their mark on this small town's architecture.
It's a perfect town to explore on foot before a late afternoon aperi-tivo in the checkered-tiled central square, Piazza IX Aprile.
I will edit this post after I return home.
